I started teaching with Google+ to manage the communication components of my online courses in August of 2011. In the end I chose to pull my classes from Google+. Here is a link to the blog where I explained why. http://www.theatreprof.com/2012/pulled-classes-google/

The ability to automate incoming students into pre-populated circles via Google Apps was an awesome tip, Seth. Even if that’s not the true end-game, it might be the very piece of the puzzle that gets admin buy-in to go all-in on Google.